Posted on 05/24/2007 1:54:45 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Last week, NewsBusters readers were introduced to Portland, Maine’s fabulous fifteen-year-old, Kristen Byrnes, whose website “Ponder the Maunder” marvelously takes on anthropogenic global warming myths including those being advanced by soon-to-be-Dr. Al Gore.
As will be revealed post haste, this newest – and likely youngest – member of the growing list of folks skeptical about man’s role in climate change actually walks the walk better than she talks the talk.
Yet, despite her youth and precocious scientific acumen, it seems quite unlikely that she’ll be sitting down with Matt Lauer or Diane Sawyer any time soon to discuss her research concerning one of the most popular subjects on the media’s front-burner. Why?
Because a prediction that she made last month concerning Australia's drought has marvelously borne fruit making the scientists employed by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change look a bit foolish.
To set this up, here’s what the IPCC Summary for Policymakers report released on April 7 predicted regarding Australia (emphasis added):
As a result of reduced precipitation and increased evaporation, water security problems are projected to intensify by 2030 in southern and eastern Australia and, in New Zealand, in Northland and some eastern regions. ** D [11.4]
[…]
Production from agriculture and forestry by 2030 is projected to decline over much of southern and eastern Australia, and over parts of eastern New Zealand, due to increased drought and fire.
About two weeks later, in an Internet discussion group which I belong to that deals exclusively with anthropogenic global warming issues, Byrnes wrote the following to an Australian participant (emphasis added, released with her permission and that of her parents):
I was just looking at my ENSO 3.4 chart when I was responding to Eduardo's email. It looks like the ENSO has been positive for 95% of the last 6 years. Since Austrailia [sic] experiences warm and dry conditions during positive ENSO, six years of drought would not surprise me. But it is headed negative very quickly now, so you might want to dust off your umbrella.
Well, just last week, there were signs from Australia that the six-year-old drought might be over. As reported by News.com.au on May 18 in an article deliciously titled “Drought Could Be Ending”:
THE El Nino weather system has run its course and the weather bureau says the worst drought in a century could be coming to an end, as heavy rain soaked parched southeastern Australia.
Inland NSW and north-east Victoria enjoyed heavy rainfall today, with reports from 20-30mm falling in some areas and as high as 53mm in country Victoria, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) senior forecaster Phil King said.
[…]
Mr King said the rainfall reflected a shift in weather patterns back to a more normal situation following an end to the drought-making El Nino and signs emerging of its opposite, a La Nina, which brings rain.
"The El Nino is over,'' he said.
"The global patterns are indicating there are more neutral and natural conditions and with the rainfalls, there are signs we have returned to more normal patterns.''
Certainly great news for Australians, wouldn't you agee? And, the Canberra Times reported Wednesday (emphasis added):
Winter has arrived early on the Snowy Mountains in spectacular fashion.
A blanket of snow has covered much of the high ranges of the Kosciuszko National Park over the past two days and hopes are running high for the coming ski season.
After spending much of the summer season enduring the drought and feeling the threat of climate change, the residents of Jindabyne are alight with anticipation of a good season. The town, at the foot of the national park, almost triples in size during the snow season and relies heavily on the tourist dollar.
"Don't you worry, this season will be a good one, this is a big one. You'll see, we can feel it," one long-time resident said.
As for agriculture, The Age reported Thursday:
A good wet season in northern Australia has put Queensland-based cattle producer Australian Agricultural Co Ltd (AAco) on track for an improved performance this year.
AAco managing director Don Mackay said recent rain in some parts of southern states had also boosted prospects.
And, News.com.au reported the following on Thursday as well (emphasis added):
Recent storms over the northeast Top End put the icing on the cake for the Nothern [sic] Territory's rain totals, which have been more than 5 times the May average in some areas.
Places such as Batchelor Airport in the north, and Kulgera in the Alice Springs district have had more than 500% of their average monthly rainfall.
Lajamanu has done particularly well with more than 7 times their average monthly rain. Most of that was from a heavy downpour of 44mm. 20mm of that fell within 1 hour.
On Thursday storms crossing the eastern Top End drenched Nhulunbuy, with 41mm recorded from this event. Showers will continue on Friday in moist, unstable easterly winds, with falls heaviest in the east.
Obviously, Kristen’s April 20 suggestion that folks in Australia better dust off their umbrellas was rather prescient. Just imagine if this 15-year-old’s prediction supported the Global Warmingist-in-Chief Al Gore’s position on man’s role in climate change. Think she’d be Matt, Meredith, and Diane’s guest tomorrow?
Regardless of the answer, here’s what Kristen saw in the climate data that the global warming alarmists working for the U.N. either didn’t recognize or chose to ignore as shared with me by e-mail:
There are certain rules in climate. One of them is that when there is an El Nino, there is dry weather in Australia, especially during their summer. Here is a map of what I am talking about:.
and during their winter:
Australia has been in drought for about 6 years because there have been positive ENSO conditions for most of the past 6 years.
ENSO stands for El Niño/Southern Oscillation; more information on this indicator is available here and here. Kristen continued her explanation:
This is the NOAA Oceanic Nino Index. There are many different ENSO indexes. I use this one because it is updated all the time.
NOAA also publishes ENSO forecasts. They are usually pretty good a few months in advance but not perfect. Last month the La Nina was starting much faster but it has slowed down. This means that Australia will have normal rainfall for the planting season. The forecast for ENSO can be found here.
Kristen then addressed why so much of the alarmism is based on specious science:
The reason that computer climate models do not work is because they cannot predict volcanoes, ENSO and solar variance. They also do not understand how water vapor and clouds work.
Another rule in climate is that El Nino warms the average global temperature and La Nina is the opposite. During normal conditions the trade winds at the equator blow cool water off the coast of Peru to the east and cause warm water to pile up near Indonesia, the wind pressure actually causes sea water levels to be higher there. During La Nina, the winds blow even harder and pile the water up even more. During El Nino the winds slow down and the warm water flows back to Peru.
The result is, during La Nina (cool event) the cold water coming from the bottom of the ocean near Peru is blown across the surface to Indonesia. The Earth's normal circulation that takes heat from the equator towards the poles has less heat to move to the poles.
On the other hand, when there is an El Nino, the warm water spreads across the surface back to Peru. More warm water is in contact with the air above and the Earth's circulation takes that heat toward the poles.
From about 1944 to 1976 the ENSO was mostly negative and solar increased then decreased. Temperatures during this time cooled a little. Since 1976 the ENSO has been more positive. This along with increasing solar activity has combined to warm the globe. What is expected over the next few years is for the ENSO to move back to a negative phase and for solar activity to level off then go down. That is why the weather guy said that in 5 years global warming will be a joke.
Kristen was referring to a NewsBusters' article about New Zealand's favorite weatherman, Augie Auer, who was quoted last week as saying that over-hyped fears regarding climate change are "all going to be a joke in five years."
Kristen continued:
I am already seeing signs that the climate is cooling. Since 2001 the oceans have not warmed. 2005 was supposed to be the warmest year on record but ENSO went a little negative that year. That means the base temperature (the oceans) was as warm as it is going to get because 2006 was an El Nino year and it was the 6th warmest on record. Keep in mind that for the last 70 years there has been an 11,000 year solar high. It takes time for all that heat to build up in the oceans, but it seems that the oceans are as warm as they will get from this 11,000 year solar high. This year will be cooler than last year because it will be an ENSO negative year and the solar cycle still has not started yet.
Also keep in mind that just because there is no El Nino or La Nina, there is still heating or cooling. ENSO positive that does not get to the level of El Nino will still warm the climate, just a lot less. Same with ENSO negative that does not make the level of La Nina.
So, what does all this tell us?
Well, if the drought in Australia and New Zealand is indeed ending – and, certainly, early-season rains and snowstorms do not yet prove this – one must question the models being used by the IPCC to forecast climate change in the future.
After all, if a long-range forecast issued April 7 ends up being wrong five weeks later, why on earth would we trust these folks from the U.N. to be able to accurately predict what’s going to happen next year, or fifty to a hundred years from now?
Maybe more important, should we actually enact policy changes that could negatively impact the economy on the recommendations of a group that can’t accurately predict events beyond just a month and a half?
Of course, the other likely more pivotal side of this revelation is whether the scientists involved are just incompetent, or willfully malfeasant. As Kristen wrote in her e-mail message to me, “They were probably trying to scare the people of Australia into signing Kyoto.”
Well, if this is the case, then aren’t all involved participating in a shameful scam?
Think about it. If this is indeed about getting developed nations to agree to the Kyoto Protocol, isn’t the U.N. best served by predicting calamitous climate events regardless of their merit in order to scare the public into complacent support?
If there is evidence to suggest that this is indeed the case – for example, proof of errant predictions by the IPCC – shouldn’t the veracity and integrity of the information emanating from this organization be much more thoroughly scrutinized?
Sounds like questions good journalists should be asking, wouldn’t you agree?
So, why aren’t they?
2009
You should see her web site. States her thesis and just goes after it, while making it lay-readable.
It reads a lot like the scene in “My Cousin Vinny” where Joe Pesci just pounds on the woman in the witness stand who has obvious vision problems. This kid just pounds away like an overmatching fighter.
bookmark for later.
what is ENSO?
You got that right.
The rains come shortly before the mudslides, don’t they?
bump
It makes me wonder if the socialists at the UN knew about all these weather patterns years ago and knew that it would get cooler. Then they dreamed up the global warming bogeyman in order to scare everyone into giving them control over their economies. If things do get warmer they can impose more draconian controls, if things get cooler they can take credit for their effective solution and move on to finally solve that pesky capitalism problem.
Or should I be wearing a tin foil hat?
Global warming: so bogus a 15-year-old can debunk it.
I read that there are fewer public schools in Australia; only about 30% of students attend public schools. 70 % attend private schools. They acheived the seperation of state and school.
Just reviewed her website. All I can say is, Wow! She is incredible! She deserve a major scholarship to a major university. She’s brilliant!
15-yr old Kristen Byrnes
You’re not the only one!
I would like for my grandkids to see snow like their parents witnessed.
So deep that they were allowed (just a few times) to climb up on the roof of the house and jump off into the snow so deep they didn’t get hurt. Or, had to dig “tunnels” to the barn to do chores.
Snow almost up to the powerlines and roads almost single-lane, except for a few wide spots.
Bring it ON!
ping
Click on POGW graphic for full GW rundown
New!!: Dr. John Ray's
GREENIE WATCH
Ping me if you find one I've missed.
~ Diary of a Mad Shoveler or A Texan Moves to Wisconsin ~
December 8: 6:00 P.M. It started to snow The first snowfall
of the season. The wife and I took our cocktails and sat for
hours by the window watching the huge snowflakes drift down
from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic.
We felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9: We awoke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white
snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic
sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world?
Moving here was the best idea I have ever had! Shoveled for
the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both
our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow
came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the
driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry. We will
definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would
be awful! Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter,
that I’ll never want to see snow again. I don’t think that is
possible. Bob is such a nice man. I’m glad he’s our neighbor.
December 14: Snow, lovely snow! Eight degrees last night.
The temperature dropped to minus twenty. The cold makes
everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I
warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is
the life! The snowplow came back in the afternoon and buried
everything again. I didn’t realize that I would have to do
quite this much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get back in
shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and puff so much.
December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a
4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and two extra
snow shovels. Stocked the freezer too. The wife wants a wood
stove in case the electricity goes out. I think she is silly.
After all, we aren’t in Alaska.
December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my rear on the
ice in the driveway while I was trying to put down salt. Hurt
like hell. The wife laughed for an hour. I think she’s very cruel.
December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go
anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the
blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and
try not to irritate her. I guess I should have bought a wood stove,
but I won’t admit that to her. God, I hate it when she is right.
Can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20: Electricity’s back on, but had another 14” of the
damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Damn
snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel,
but they said they’re too busy playing hockey. I think they are
lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying
a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in March.
I think they’re lying. Bob says I will have to shovel or the city
will bill me. I think he’s lying.
December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13
more inches of the white stuff fell today, and it’s so cold it
probably won’t melt until August. Took me 45 minutes to get all
dressed to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time
I got undressed, peed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel.
I tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of
the winter, but he says he’s too busy. I think he’s lying.
December 23: Only 2” of snow today. And, it warmed up to 0.
The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning.
What is she.....nuts??? Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month
ago. She said she did, but I think she’s lying.
December 24: 6”. Snow packed so hard by the snowplow, I broke
the shovel. I though I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch
the SOB who drives that snowplow, I’ll drag him through the snow
by his family jewels. I know he hides around the corner and waits
for me to finish shoveling and than he comes down the street at a
100 miles and hour and throws snow all over where I have just been!
Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and
open our presents, but I was busy watching for the darn snowplow.
December 25: Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the darned slop
tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil.
God, I hate the snow. Then, the snowplow driver came by and asked
for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife
says I have bad attitude. I think she’s an idiot. If I have to
watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to kill her.
December 26: Still snowed in. Why the heck did I ever move here?
It was all her idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.
December 27: Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.
December 28: Warmed up to above-50. Still snowed in. The wife is
driving me crazy!!!!!
December 29: 10 more inches of snow. Bob says I have to shovel the
roof or it will collapse. That’s the silliest thing I have ever heard.
How dumb does he think I am?????
December 30: Roof caved in. The snowplow driver is suing me for a
million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home to
her mother. 9” predicted.
December 31: Set fire to what was left of the house. No more
shoveling.
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